
COLLEGE:
Jason Jones is a versatile defensive lineman that can play either end or tackle for the Titans. The 6-foot-5-inch, 275-pounder is extremely athletic for his frame having begun his collegiate career as a tight end at Eastern Michigan before shifting to strong-side defensive tackle as a sophomore. In 45 games for the Eagles, Jones started 33 times on defense and three times on offense. He collected 175 tackles (101 solo) with 14 sacks and ranked second in school history with 50 stops for losses. He developed into one of the nation's top run stuffers, ranking fifth in the NCAA in tackles for loss as a junior. He continued to excel in the trenches as a senior receiving third-team All-American and first-team All-MAC honors while playing tackle and defensive end and finishing tied for seventh in the country with 19.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. As a true freshman, Jones started three of 11 games he played in as a tight end for Eastern Michigan. He also saw action on the defensive line midway through the season, making one solo tackle while grabbing four passes for 12 yards. Jones took over strong-side defensive duties the following season, earning Player of the Week honors twice. As a sophomore, he made 47 tackles (28 solo) while ranking second on the squad with 6.5 sacks and 12 stops for loss. He was selected by the Titans in the second round (54th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft.
TITANS TIDBITS:
• Jones was raised in an athletic family. His brother, Brian, played basketball at the University of Detroit Mercy and his other brother, Michael, played football at Alabama State.
• Jones' other brother, Jamar, works at the White House as a Secret Service uniform police officer.
• Jones is familiar with the Nashville area having spent two months prior to the NFL Combine at D1 Sports Training in Franklin, Tenn.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• AS A SENIOR (2007), received
third-team All-American and first-team All-MAC honors. Played in all 12 games with 11 starts and finished fourth on the team with 70 tackles. Tied for seventh in the NCAA with a career-high 19.5 stops for losses. Added 10 quarterback pressures, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble while breaking up three passes and blocking a kick.
• A team captain, he enjoyed two of his
better games against big conference teams: at Vanderbilt, collected a season-best 11 tackles and at Michigan recorded a season-best 3.5 tackles for loss.
• Selected to play in the 2008 Senior Bowl All-Star Game and finished with three
tackles, one sack for 14 yards and one FF.
• Named the recipient of the Harold E. Sponberg Award as the team's top down lineman scholar-athlete.
• AS A JUNIOR (2006), turned in one of the best defensive efforts in the nation, recording 18.5 tackles for losses of 71 yards to rank fifth nationally in that category. Named EMU's Most Valuable Player and chosen second-team All-Mid-American Conference at defensive lineman.
• Started in all 11 games in which he played, missing only the Louisiana Lafayette game with a leg injury. Recorded 57 tackles to rank sixth on the team and notched four sacks for losses of 31 yards and two forced fumbles.
• Turned in at least one tackle for loss in 10 games with the top effort being five tackles for losses totaling 16 yards at Northwestern.
• Chosen by the coaching staff for seven single-game awards; was named Defensive Player of the Game against Michigan State, Northwestern and Bowling Green games; selected for Championship Performances twice, for the Northwestern and BGSU contests; picked for a Winning Performance against Toledo and for a Championship Special Teams Award for the Western Michigan contest.
• AS A SOPHOMORE (2005), started all 11 games on the defensive line and responded with 47 total tackles. Finished second on the team in both tackles for loss with 12 for 56 yards and in sacks with 6.5 for 45 yards.
• Named Defensive Eagle of the Week twice, for the Kent State and Ball State games. Also singled out for Winning Performance Awards against Kent State, Northern Illinois and Ball State. Chosen by the coaching staff for the Defensive Big Play of the Game against Northern Illinois.
• AS A FRESHMAN (2004), one of six 2004 recruits that saw action during the season. Earned a letter after playing in all 11 games with three starts at tight end.
• Began the season at tight end before
moving to the defensive line midway through the 2004 campaign. Caught four passes for 12 yards. Singled out for a Winning Performance award against Florida.
PERSONAL:
• Single, splits time between Nashville and Detroit, Mich.
• Attended Lathrup (Southfield, Mich.) High School and enjoyed an outstanding prep career as a football and basketball player. He was named first-team All-Oakland Athletic Association as a senior, recording 27 tackles, six sacks, four forced fumbles and seven interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes for 395 yards and eight touchdowns as a receiver. The Detroit News named him the 44th-best player on the Blue Chip list in the state of Michigan, as he also added All-Metro North honors.
• Started as a junior and senior on the school's basketball team. Led the hoops squad to the Class A regionals in 2003-04 after averaging 24 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. He was chosen Most Valuable Player in the Motor City Roundball Classic, as he also garnered third-team Class A All-State pick as well as a first-team All-Metro North recognition.
• Has three brothers, Jamar, Brian and Micheal. His mother, Gloria, graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy.
• Majored in business management at Eastern Michigan.
• Volunteered to read to elementary school children on Fridays while at Eastern Michigan.
• List of favorites: (movies) “Paid in Full” and “Gone Baby Gone”; (TV Shows) “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Martin”; (actor) Denzel Washington; (music artist) Lil' Wayne; (school subject) organizational behavior; (car) Cadillac Escalade; (video game) “Call of Duty 4”; (food) chicken; (sports hero) Michael Jordan; (pro sports team) L.A. Lakers.
• Born Jason Duane Jones, the son of J.D. and Gloria Jones, in Detroit, Mich.